Cavs' Bowl Hopes Narrowed To Two

Indiana Becomes Virginia Tech's Foe

November 23, 1993|By DAVE JOHNSON Daily Press

The Hall of Fame Bowl has invited North Carolina State to be its Atlantic Coast Conference representative, sources said Monday night, dealing a crushing and perhaps fatal blow to Virginia's postseason hopes.

The Wolfpack will play the Big Ten Conference's fourth qualifier, most likely Michigan, on New Year's Day in Tampa, Fla. Mike Schulze, the Hall of Fame's director of public relations, would not confirm State's selection and said an announcement will be made today.

Virginia athletic director Jim Copeland was informed of the Hall of Fame's decision, but also would not confirm. Copeland said he told Cavaliers coach George Welsh of the bowl's choice.

Also Monday night, the Independence Bowl selected Indiana as Virginia Tech's opponent on New Year's Eve in Shreveport, La. Both teams are 8-3.

Virginia, which lost four of its final six games, is in danger of missing postseason play despite winning seven games for the second consecutive season. U.Va. and Rutgers were the only teams last year from major conferences to finish 7-4 or better and not go to a bowl.

The Cavs now have only two bowl possibilities: the Alamo and Carquest, both of which are contracted to conferences that may not have enough qualifiers who win six games against Division I-A teams. The Alamo, which takes the Southwest's third qualifier against a fourth Pacific 10 team, appears the most likely.

Unless Texas upsets eighth-ranked Texas A&M on Thanksgiving Day, the Southwest will not have a third qualifier. That open slot likely would go to either Virginia (7-4) or Iowa (6-5).

Louisiana State must beat Arkansas at home Saturday to be the Southeastern Conference's fifth qualifier and make the Carquest. If not, the Fort Lauderdale-based bowl will be searching for an opponent to face the Big East's third team.

``If LSU loses, Virginia is the most attractive team out there,'' Carquest executive vice president Brian Flajole said.

The Liberty has an open slot against Louisville, but has all but said it will invite Michigan State.

The Hall of Fame considered several factors, including conference records, head-to-head competition and how well each school's fans traditionally travel. State finished a game behind the Cavs in the ACC standings at 4-4, but won 34-29 on Oct. 30 in Raleigh. The Wolfpack sold approximately 17,000 tickets for the Gator Bowl last year in Jacksonville, Fla., about the same number Virginia did for the 1991 Gator.

The Independence Bowl will have two ranked teams for the first time in its history. No. 21 Indiana and No. 22 Virginia Tech are both 8-3.

"From a national television standpoint, this game ought to be a hit," said Independence Bowl chairman Mike McCarthy. "Its a Big 10 (school) against the Big East."

"We are delighted because it is the first time in history for Virginia Tech to play a Big 10 team," said Jack Williams, Virginia Tech director of media relations. "We think it's a perfect matchup."